The fine art of silence and pushing boundaries

In 2007 Don Peebles received an Arts Foundation Icon Award, held only by 20 living people at any time. Photo / Supplied

Don Peebles, ONZM, artist. Died aged 88.

Don Peebles was a pioneer of abstract painting in New Zealand, and a leading force in contemporary New Zealand art.

Born in 1922 in Taneatua near Whakatane, he attended Wellington College before leaving to deliver telegrams for the Post Office in 1937.

He saw active service in the army during World War II, especially in Italy, and studied art in Florence briefly at the war's end before returning to New Zealand.

He attended classes at the Wellington Technical College Art School from 1947 to 1950 until a leave of absence from the Post Office enabled him to study full-time at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney from 1951 to 1953.

In 1960 he travelled to London for further study. There he met Constructionist artist Victor Pasmore, who created abstract artworks in wood. The works of Pasmore and other Constructionists influenced Peebles to embark on a style of painting that tried "to get at the essence of things - to keep pushing back the boundaries".

In 1965 Peebles was appointed to the staff of the University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts, becoming Head of the Painting Department in 1980. During his time there he earned a reputation as one of the country's foremost art theoreticians.

He also worked on his 'Linear Series', large canvases with dominant vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines. These large works required equally large gallery spaces to be appreciated, so often Peebles' work was not seen as widely as he might have hoped.

Among the best known are works with large wings, fins and drapes of canvas.

But just as regularly, he created small artworks, which made touring exhibitions more possible.

Landscapes were also in his repertoire, although sometimes it was difficult to pick them. He once said, "I used to paint the light slanting through the trees. Then I left the trees out."

He retired from the university in 1986 and returned to painting full-time. His work has been acquired by both public and private collections in New Zealand and internationally.

Because of his belief that painting was a silent art, his works rarely have titles and contain no words.

Peebles was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999 for his services to New Zealand art.

In 2003 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Literature by the University of Canterbury. He received an Arts Foundation Icon Award in 2007, awarded to just 20 living people at any one time.

The director of the Diversion Gallery in Marlborough, Barbara Speedy, was a personal friend and hosted Peebles' last solo showing last August.

Ms Speedy says the artist continued painting throughout his battle with cancer. She said Peebles had a sharp wit and a dry sense of humour.

"It was like a razor sharp wit sheathed in silk because he was always such a gentleman in everything."

Peebles was an unofficial mentor and guide for a lot of New Zealand artists, she said.

"It's like a piece of our art history has fallen away."

Peebles died in Christchurch. He is survived by his wife, Prudence, and their three children.

- NZPA AND STAFF REPORTER